13 June 2012
The programme focuses on tagging bass and is designed to assist in answering a number of questions about the biology and behaviour of the current fish stock in the Island’s waters. It will look at growth rate, migrations and movements and the relationship between neighbouring stocks. Examples of information that the scheme hopes to collate includes:
- do the fish stay close to Jersey all year?
- do they interact with stocks on the French coast?
- do they interact with stocks off the Guernsey coast or further out into the Channel?
The process involves catching and measuring the fish before tagging and returning the fish to the sea. Participating anglers have been trained appropriately to ensure that the fish are correctly handled and returned to the water in good order.
The data captured will be used to support the wider management of the Island’s fish stocks in order to ensure that the resource is maintained sustainably.
The Department of the Environment’s Marine Resources Section is supporting the programme with a poster and reward campaign encouraging anglers who catch a tagged fish to note the tag number before returning the fish to the sea. Anglers should also note the day, time and location of the catch, and if possible record the fish length and weight.
Greg Morel, Marine and Coastal Officer said: “Sustainable fishing is a challenge that faces all coastal communities. This new initiative will create a valuable picture for us of the current state of fish stocks and how they move around the borderless waters that surround Jersey”.
The ray tagging programme also continues looking at common ray species around Jersey’s coastal waters.
All data gathered with reference to a tag will bring a £6 reward.
gov.je